Russia set a record for pet food exports in 2025, significantly strengthening its presence in Belarus and other post-Soviet markets while launching sales in new destinations across the Middle East and Asia. The trend is expected to continue as new production capacities come online, even as the domestic market shows increasing signs of oversupply.
Russia exported 106,000 metric tons of pet food valued at US$256 million last year, according to Agroexport, a Russian government agency that facilitates agricultural exports. In value terms, exports jumped 23%, reaching a new record, Agroexport said.
Belarus remains the key market for Russian pet food, with exports last year reaching 54,000 metric tons worth US$176 million. Belarus lacks localized pet food production, and many countries refuse to sell pet food to the country due to sanctions, said Kirill Dmitriev, president of the Russian National Association of Zoo Industry.
Although Russia primarily exports pet food to post-Soviet countries, 2025 also saw sales launched in several more distant markets. Agroexport reported that Russia made its first pet food exports to Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and Bangladesh. Russia also resumed exports to Hong Kong, which had been suspended in 2021.
A way out
Russian pet food companies are increasingly being pushed to expand exports to mitigate oversupply on the domestic market, Strategy Partners, a Moscow-based think tank, warned.
Amid mounting economic challenges, growth in Russian pet food consumption is slowing. In 2026, Russian pet food production is projected to reach 1.63 million metric tons, up 4.8% year over year. Domestic consumption, in turn, is expected to rise by only 1.9% to 1.5 million metric tons, according to Strategy Partners.
The gap between supply and demand is widening, and the surplus on the Russian market could reach 111,000 metric tons this year. With several large pet food plants slated to come online in the coming years, the imbalance is expected to grow further. According to Strategy Partners, the surplus will reach 125,000 metric tons in 2027, 151,000 metric tons in 2028, and 178,000 metric tons in 2029.
Shortage amid oversupply
The oversupply is primarily concentrated in the mass segment of the pet food market, said Vyacheslav Lashmankin, executive director of the Pet Food Manufacturers Association.
Russia still imports around 3% of its pet food, primarily in specialized, medicated and holistic categories. These products, Lashmankin said, are difficult or impossible to produce locally.
In recent years, Russian pet owners have increasingly complained about a lack of specialized pet food on store shelves, as the veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has banned imports from a large number of European countries, citing GMO and fraud concerns.
Profit margins in pet food production remain relatively high, even amid oversupply. In 2026, margins range between 10% and 15%, noticeably higher than in other fast-moving consumer goods segments with intense competition, said Dmitry Krasnov, an analyst with Recksoft Consulting. Analysts warn, however, that profitability is on a downward trajectory. In niche segments, margins remain uncertain, as domestic demand is limited, export prospects are unclear and the feasibility of small-scale production is questionable.
A strategic shift
In the coming years, Russian pet food companies are likely to intensify efforts to boost exports, Strategy Partners said. China could be a promising market, but it is currently closed to Russian exports, Krasnov noted.
The export potential of Russian dog and cat food is estimated at more than 150,000 metric tons by 2030, with projected revenue of US$330 million to $350 million, according to Zooinform, a Moscow-based consultancy.
Several factors constrain export growth, analysts note. Sanctions effectively block access to Western markets, while high logistics costs hamper expansion into the Middle East and Asia.
